Two members of Ohio’s Congressional delegation today called on the government of Cuba to release the body of Ohio native William Morgan, who helped overthrow a dictator there more than 50 years ago.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D., Ohio) and U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D., Toledo) released a letter they sent to Secretary of State John Kerry asking for the return of Mr. Morgan’s body.

“As relations between the U.S. and Cuba continue to normalize, we ask for your assistance in returning this American’s remains to the United States,” the two lawmakers wrote.

Mr. Morgan went to Cuba in 1957 to help overthrow the dictator Fulgencia Batista, joining forces with guerrilla leader Fidel Castro. While there, Commandante Morgan married Olga Rodriguez, now Olga Goodwin. Commandante Morgan later turned against Castro, who had him arrested and executed in 1961.

Mr. Morgan’s widow also fought for democracy in Cuba and was tortured and imprisoned for 10 years before escaping her native Cuba to settle in Toledo. She has been fighting to secure his remains from Havana for three decades.

According to the letter, the Cuban government promised delivery of Mr. Morgan’s remains when Miss Kaptur visited the island nation in 2002, but Ms. Goodwin and her family are still waiting for the government to fulfill its promise.

Mr. Morgan was born in Cleveland in 1928 and was 1 year old when he and his parents moved to Toledo's Old West End.